Team Event Too Much?

I am not sure I am that keen on the team event. I think it is too much extra pressure on the skaters and chances of injury are great before their individual events. I wonder if it is worth it. Anyone else feel this way?

i don't think skaters are taking it that seriously. they're not taking their mistakes or losses too roughly and if they blow it a little, most fans/commentators are saying, "welll......as long as they get their nerves out before the individual." the skaters and media are treating this as a glorified dress rehearsal and it shows

I have a hard time buying the argument. This would suggest that figure skating is the OMG MOST DIFFICULT SPORT EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to suggest they can't do more than two events in a single competition. Especially when a lot of them are only doing one extra event. Nevermind skiiers, snowboarders, speedskaters, etc are all able to compete in multiple strenuous pressure filled events.

Skating needs to get over itself. Or stop crying "we're a sport".

Not trying to be overly harsh, but really it just seems like we're crying over a hangnail (which yes, hurt, but you get over it).

Well, I don't want to appear belligerent as I have aired my feelings on this event more than once. But, I will say, I love it! I love seeing more skating. I'm not really seeing the 'not taking it seriously' vibe. Sure, some skaters are saying this is prep for their individual events, but that just affirms what I have already said in other threads: this should be after, not before.

Meanwhile, and again as I have said elsewhere, I have fielded more calls and texts from 4-year fair weather (olympic only) skating fans today about this event. They are totally into it. Some were confused and thought 'this is it', but when I told them the individual events were still to come, they were stoked. Others were like, I don't remember seeing this much skating before, and who is so and so....I can't see how this is anything but good for skating.

Although I can't resist saying: it should be the 'redemption song'....

I have a hard time buying the argument. This would suggest that figure skating is the OMG MOST DIFFICULT SPORT EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to suggest they can't do more than two events in a single competition. Especially when a lot of them are only doing one extra event. Nevermind skiiers, snowboarders, speedskaters, etc are all able to compete in multiple strenuous pressure filled events.

Skating needs to get over itself. Or stop crying "we're a sport".

Not trying to be overly harsh, but really it just seems like we're crying over a hangnail (which yes, hurt, but you get over it).

There's my girl! You tell 'em!

I am having a wonderful time watching the team event and reading everyone's posts on it.

I'm not seeing any of the skaters snivel and cry. Yes, most countries are sharing duties.. but at least two competitors from each are skating both programs.

It's fun and exciting... so far with surprises and heartbreaks... rowdy and raucus... just like any good sporting event should be. Dear Lord, I didn't realize so many fans of our sport had such delicate, Victorian sensibilities about the athletes. Horrors! Some of these skaters will have to DOUBLE their time competing... all the way from 7 minutes in a week to nearly 14 minutes! The exhaustion will kill them!

When people see the Russian team on top of the podium, and they hear the crowd go wild... it will have an impact. The team event is here to stay.

I have a hard time buying the argument. This would suggest that figure skating is the OMG MOST DIFFICULT SPORT EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to suggest they can't do more than two events in a single competition. Especially when a lot of them are only doing one extra event. Nevermind skiiers, snowboarders, speedskaters, etc are all able to compete in multiple strenuous pressure filled events.

Skating needs to get over itself. Or stop crying "we're a sport".

Not trying to be overly harsh, but really it just seems like we're crying over a hangnail (which yes, hurt, but you get over it).

I don't think that anyone is claiming it is the most difficult sport ever. This is simply a new thing for skaters. The other athletes you mention do that at competitions regularly, skaters do not. There is a rhythm and routine to competing and this changes it. It is not whining or complaining or having "Victorian sensibilities" to understand that this is something the athletes and coaches have to adjust to. Castelli and Schnapir, as an example, are essentially doing two full competitions in less than a week. That is not something they, or any skaters, are used to dealing with and how they mentally and physically prepare is different because of it.

I hear you, Louisa, but Castelli and Schnapir will be Olympic medalists in less than 24 hours, most likely. So will Kevin Reynolds (he is skating tomorrow, isn't he?), and Jason Brown, and both excellent Canadian pairs, and Katlyn Osmond, and all the Russians (they can't ALL win individual medals), heck, even Jeremy Abbott.

Most likely, they wouldn't be otherwise. I think they'll adjust to that.

If this new event is as successful as it appears it will be, I won't be surprised to see the ISU add it to the World Championships.

I hear you, Louisa, but Castelli and Schnapir will be Olympic medalists in less than 24 hours, most likely. So will Kevin Reynolds (he is skating tomorrow, isn't he?), and Jason Brown, and both excellent Canadian pairs, and Katlyn Osmond, and all the Russians (they can't ALL win individual medals), heck, even Jeremy Abbott.

Most likely, they wouldn't be otherwise. I think they'll adjust to that.

If this new event is as successful as it appears it will be, I won't be surprised to see the ISU add it to the World Championships.

The stands aren't full. That is going to be a consideration for both the ISU and IOC before they proceed. I also don't see it being added to Worlds as is since Worlds is usually a short event and a team event like this would require a lot of extra time and money. Additionally, there would not be any way to have adequate time between events for any of the skaters if it were added to Worlds, other than keeping them there for much longer...which is more cost for federations.

I don't think that the skaters are objecting to the event and definitely not the medals when they recognize that this is new and different and changes their competition routine. There are fans objecting to the medals, though. You can read it here at this board.

I have a hard time buying the argument. This would suggest that figure skating is the OMG MOST DIFFICULT SPORT EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to suggest they can't do more than two events in a single competition. Especially when a lot of them are only doing one extra event. Nevermind skiiers, snowboarders, speedskaters, etc are all able to compete in multiple strenuous pressure filled events.

Skating needs to get over itself. Or stop crying "we're a sport".

Not trying to be overly harsh, but really it just seems like we're crying over a hangnail (which yes, hurt, but you get over it).

This.

It's more exposure for skating and more opportunities for skaters to medal so it's good for the sport and I can't understand how anyone can whine about it.

The only thing I wish was different was 6 teams making the final and not 5 so that there's more competition excitement until the end.

Originally Posted by louisa05

The stands aren't full. That is going to be a consideration for both the ISU and IOC before they proceed.

at one point there wasn't more than one or two downhill events, too... sport changes and evolves. Those that don't get left behind and die. The Team Event has caught people's attention. If the elitist fans can't get on board with it - and that's what it sounds like with the whole "we don't need it. it's just a way to get more medals" talk I've read by fans the last few days - then the fandom will just have to change too.

And, yes, it does sound like we're saying skating's the most difficult ever. We complain when competitions happen in back to back weeks. Now we're complaining that they have to skate 3-4 programs in an olympics as opposed to two. Either we're saying the sport is SO difficult that it shouldn't be done or we're saying skating/skaters are so wimpy that they can't do it. Either way, skating doesn't look good with fans whining about something that really all other sports deal with.

It's not like the skaters didn't know the set up, they've been doing something similar with the world team trophy for a few years now.

I have a hard time buying the argument. This would suggest that figure skating is the OMG MOST DIFFICULT SPORT EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD to suggest they can't do more than two events in a single competition. Especially when a lot of them are only doing one extra event. Nevermind skiiers, snowboarders, speedskaters, etc are all able to compete in multiple strenuous pressure filled events.

Skating needs to get over itself. Or stop crying "we're a sport".

Not trying to be overly harsh, but really it just seems like we're crying over a hangnail (which yes, hurt, but you get over it).

It is a new event and even though people want to do well in it maybe deep down inside they just don't give it that much weight... yet. Maybe that will take time. We all know the team event in gymnastics is very important to the gymnasts and skating keeps getting compared to it but I have this feeling that as long as it is exclusive to just the Olympics that isn't going to happen.

It is a new event and even though people want to do well in it maybe deep down inside they just don't give it that much weight... yet. Maybe that will take time. We all know the team event in gymnastics is very important to the gymnasts and skating keeps getting compared to it but I have this feeling that as long as it is exclusive to just the Olympics that isn't going to happen.

I am not saying the skaters are whining. I'm saying that the fans that are, are not helping the sport.